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New Study Uncovers that Sunlight and Clouds, Instead of CO2, Shape Earth’s Climate


The Earth’s warming is attributed to increased sunlight absorption resulting from decreased global cloud cover, as concluded by two researchers.

The summer months of this year were marked by cold outdoor pools, scorching concrete surfaces, and melting popsicles due to the intense heat.

In August, the European Commission’s Copernicus report revealed record high global average temperatures in the past year, with a 1.51-degree Celsius increase above pre-industrial levels.
Analyzing satellite data, researchers Roy Spencer and John Christy from the University of Alabama Huntsville found that the average temperature in August exceeded the 30-year average from 1991-2020 by 0.88 degrees Celsius.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra expressed concern over the impact of extreme heat on public health and highlighted the challenges faced by communities in responding to this crisis.

“What we’re experiencing today is vastly different from what was encountered 30 to 40 years ago. We are in a whole new reality.”

President Joe Biden released the National Heat Strategy for 2024–2030 on Aug. 14, as part of a commitment to address rising temperatures, primarily driven by human-induced increases in carbon dioxide emissions, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

“Stabilizing the climate requires rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for net zero CO2 emissions,” stated Panmao Zhai, a Chinese climatologist and co-chair of the IPCC Working Group I.

“Limiting other greenhouse gases like methane could have dual benefits for health and the climate.”

Ned Nikolov, a physical scientist affiliated with Colorado State University, disputed the IPCC’s claims regarding CO2.

“The greenhouse theory suggests that the atmospheric composition plays a crucial role,” explained Nikolov. “However, the concept that minimal increases in carbon dioxide cause global warming is erroneous.”

Publishing a study in August, Nikolov and Karl Zeller discovered that recent warming is not the result of rising CO2 levels but rather due to Earth absorbing more sunlight because of reduced global cloud cover.

Albedo and Climate

NASA describes Earth’s atmosphere as constantly working to balance its energy budget, which involves absorbing and releasing sunlight. Changes in this balance can lead to temperature changes on Earth.

An alteration in this equilibrium, such as increased sunlight absorption or reduced heat emission to space, can cause Earth’s temperature to rise. This phenomenon, known as radiative forcing, involves shortwave incoming radiation and longwave outgoing radiation.

Moreover, Earth’s albedo, the proportion of reflected sunlight, influences the amount of radiation reaching the surface.

In the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, the impact of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions on Earth’s energy budget is noted. This imbalance traps more thermal energy, leading to higher global temperatures and warmer oceans.
A sign near Strasburg, N.D., on Jan. 11, 2024. (Jack Dura/AP Photo)

A sign near Strasburg, N.D., on Jan. 11, 2024. Jack Dura/AP Photo

Regarding Earth’s albedo, the IPCC acknowledges a decline in surface solar radiation between 1950 and 1980 but a partial recovery afterward. This trend is attributed to variations in anthropogenic aerosol emissions and cloudiness.

Nikolov’s study challenges the IPCC’s claims, highlighting that atmospheric composition does not significantly impact global temperature. The warming is primarily attributed to Earth’s reduced albedo and increased solar radiation absorption.
The study also identifies discrepancies in the Earth’s Energy Imbalance (EEI) interpretation. Nikolov and Zeller dispute the notion of a real imbalance caused by rising greenhouse gases and suggest a different mechanism involving adiabatic dissipation of thermal energy in the atmosphere due to decreasing pressure with altitude.

Nikolov emphasized the critical role of cloud cover in climate regulation and called for further interdisciplinary research to understand the drivers of climate change.

The absence of substantial warming beyond solar forcing challenges the current climate consensus. Nikolov urges a shift in focus towards the impact of Earth’s albedo changes and cloud cover on recent warming trends.

NASA’s perspective on solar influence on climate and the absence of significant warming due to solar activity conflicts with Nikolov’s findings, raising questions about the current climate narrative.



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